LIBERTY — After their first win last weekend on the road against New Paltz, the RedHawks found themselves tied with Beacon and on the verge of a playoff spot. The only thing standing in their way? Their regular season finale, a home league game against Beacon to determine who would advance to the Class A Sectionals. The two evenly matched teams fought from the opening kick until the final whistle, but it was Beacon who prevailed with a 12-9 victory over Liberty.

The game started with Liberty winning the coin toss and electing to receive the opening kick. On their first drive of the game, the RedHawks mustered just two positive yards before a three-and-out forced them to punt the ball to Beacon.

Beacon similarly struggled on their first drive, punting it back to Liberty, who got their offense going immediately as they drove down and punched in the first score of the day to make it 6-0. They lined up to kick the extra point but were unsuccessful.

On the ensuing kickoff, Beacon was able to return it all the way across the field for an equalizing touchdown just 12 seconds later.

Knotted at six apiece, the two defenses stood strong until just before halftime, when Liberty would convert a field goal to take a 9-6 lead into the break.

Beacon received the kick to start the third quarter and spent the next ten minutes of the game clock slowly but surely moving the ball up the field. With just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Bulldogs’ drive finally stalled, forcing a punt deep into the RedHawks’ red zone. A lost fumble on the second play from scrimmage would set Beacon up with a first and goal, threatening to take the lead as the third quarter ended.

Beacon’s first play of the fourth quarter was a 3rd and goal from the 9-yard-line, which they were able to punch into the end zone to take a 12-9 lead.

Liberty spent the majority of the fourth quarter attempting to regain the lead, and thanks to some penalties by Beacon, the RedHawks were able to stop their drive from stalled and made it deep into Bulldogs’ territory. However, a late offensive holding penalty with under a minute remaining took what would’ve been a third down conversion into the red zone and made it a 3rd and long. Two incomplete passes later and the RedHawks would give the ball back to the Bulldogs to kneel their way into the post-season.